To think a crowd of people all wearing black coats is depressing and dreary?

[PurpleParrotfish]

School Christmas concert this morning. Kids all in cheery Christmas jumpers. Parents looked like a funeral.
Why, nowadays does almost everyone wear black winter coats? It’s dreary enough in the dark days of winter, there’s no law against having a bit of colour.
In the row of 23 adults in front of me, I counted one cream / light beige coat, one brown, one emerald green, one dark khaki - and the rest all black, maybe with the odd dark navy among them. No cheery coloured scarves or anything like that.
Anyone else agree that it makes winter more depressing when commuters or even Christmas shopping crowds are wall to wall black (with occasional navy/dark grey if you’re lucky) and wish colourful coats were fashionable again?
Yes, I know, first world problems, bigger things to worry about etc…

Ooh I love a green coat too.

Well done for admitting that on this bitchy thread!! Don't worry, plenty of have got your ( black coat clad) back!!

Plenty of US!!

My coat (singular) is black. I bought a black coat because I can wear it everywhere.

Imagine I bought a yellow one and had to go to a funeral.... either have to buy another coat with no money, or borrow a coat from someone.

Some of us can afford A coat, others can mix and match their outfits with many. (most are somewhere in between)

I've never counted but where I live most people seem to wear a variety of coat colours. I think black looks smart and is practical so YABU.

My dress coat is black cashmere. My everyday coat is gray wool. I have two waterproof coats for snow, and they are black because they were on sale and that was the only color in my size.

I don't find winter dreary or depressing or negative so it would never occur to me that I, or anyone else, needed to wear bright colours to liven it up.

Tbh, I wouldn’t notice the amount of black coats. If there’s a style I like, I make a mental note.

I had to think about it and I rarely wear black. I have a black snood with fleece inner layer and that’s about it. My go-to coat is a beige double breasted that comes to my calves, a grey one of the same style, a dark oversized grey one, a brown coat with dark khaki green. I just bought some winter hats in a mustard yellow, rust orange, wine red,. and may add a green to the mix later and likely a navy coat. My knit chunky scarves are bright colours or neutral beige, taupe. They are what suit me, enhance my complexion and fit my personality.

I don’t agree completely about black hiding stains better. The stains are quite clear on my sons’ black uniform trousers compared to my youngest grey ones.

I'm old and look like a witch in a black coat, all I need is my broomstick and peaked hat

I don't think it's bitchy or nasty to reflect that coats, and our clothes in general, have become much more black and grey in winter. If you go to vintage clothes shops and look at the 50s, 60s and 70's clothes, even though people had fewer clothes and they were more expensive or made at home, people didn't tend to choose black for coats, as it was associated with mourning. So, the argument that it's because people have one coat doesn't wash.

Black puffy coats are practical, I have one, but I know it's not stylish. I use that for running about, very cold days. Otherwise, I've managed to pick up some charity shop coats which are beige or cream, lovely, and a grey fluffy one. I hate wearing all black, it's very draining.

I don't think people should or shouldn't wear anything, and clearly shops are just responding to the market, but everyone is saying how depressing the UK is and we certainly do wear depressing colours. In Italy/other European places they do wear puffy jackets but usually in beige or different colours, the all black look isn't as popular.

I have yellow coat, a green coat and a black coat!

I like black, even have black nails currently

Back is an easy colour - hides dirt, goes with everything, is universally considered flattering. I have had navy coats, green coats, beige coats, but my current one is black. Easy to brighten up with a colourful scarf or hat

I LOVE my colourful coat! My kids have multicolour ones too, I find it safer walking at night, and we can always find each other in a crowd! 😂

Driving in the night, I wish there were some sort of mandatory glow in the dark bits on clothing, would make people more visible. Especially the bike idiots with no lights on! I do like my black coat but it does at least have some shiny white strips that make me visible.

I have reddy orange and also a green puffer style coats and a light pink wool coat for normal day wear. Lots of different coloured woolly hats and scarves too.

I also have a short black puffer style jacket for dog walking and chicken coop cleaning. It gets quite muddy.

I don’t like the plain long black coat look as to me, it looks very unimaginative and dreary. At least wear a brightly coloured scarf with it!

I think the reason is that people tend not to have loads and loads of coats, so black ones are more versatile and less noticeable if you're wearing the same one repeatedly.

I bought a yellow Parka recently, there was a very poor selection of colours, took me ages to find anything that wasn't khaki, blue or beige. Sometimes you just can't find what you want.

@Sidking LOVE your coat. Where did you get it from please?

@Sidking thats a pretty casual coat though and for many people just wouldn’t be suitable for the many occasions they might need it.

Vinted! The brand is westbeach :)

I find ski jackets (this is one) tend to be available in multicolours and patterns much more than other styles

For full disclosure, I have one winter coat (over 13 years old) and it’s red. So not splashing a massive coat budget!

I suppose different people have different priorities - for me I’m happier in brighter colours and not so bothered about wearing a red coat with pale pink trainers or whatever.

I feel like 15, 20 years ago people weren’t all in black in winter. Is that just nostalgia for lost youth?

I’m not sure why some people are taking it as bitchy or a personal attack. My point is that it’s the social norm nowadays to wear black in winter, usually paired with dark hats and scarves, and that I find the cumulative effect a bit dismal. And others have said they don’t find it so, and they just want a coat that’s practical. Fair debate no?

So there you are, OP. If you see wall to wall black coats, it's not because people are wearing them, it's because of your inner darkness being projected out.

I have just bought a brown and orange checked coat in the charity shop ( looks better than it sounds). But my main coat is black because I take the Tube almost daily, and a bright coat would be dirty in a week.

Outside of a wedding/funeral I can't think of any situations I wouldn't wear it for 🤔 what other occasions does your outerwear matter? Genuinely interested btw, would it not be ok to turn up to work things (which I'm assuming would be indoors during the time you would need a winter coat) in a funky coat? I'm self employed so don't do functions or anything fancy like that